"Masks", Sirius/James UST, James/Lily, PG-13

Title: Masks
Author: phoenixtears 
Pairing: Sirius/James UST, James/Lily
Rating: PG-13
Words: 215
Notes: I'm writing a novel-length story and doing a LOT of work today.  I just needed a drabble break!

Sirius Black had slept with many women.  Tall and short, round, thin, black, white, witch and Muggle alike.  He was good at sleeping with women.  He could loose their tongues, wrap their legs around his waist, nibble rakishly at an ear in the dark. 

He’d always worn his conquests like adornments, gold and shining.  He wore them like new vests, a fine chain.  He wore them like masks.

All it took was for James to walk in a room.  Sirius could even still smell like the woman he’d been with not an hour ago.  Yet it was all he could do, watching his friend with his new girl, Lily, watching them flirt and then turn that sweetness on him, the one sidling up and taking his arm, Lily…the other leaning in close and whispering in his ear, “Let’s wreak some havoc, shall we?”

All it took was James, and Sirius felt the golden mask slip.  And because he was such a lady-killer, Sirius could get away with sliding a hand around James’s body, pulling him in close, kissing him hard on the mouth to Lily’s giggling delight, and he could whisper back, “Way ahead of you, old friend.”

These were the moments that had slain his soul.

These were the moments he treasured beyond price.